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Privacy Evaluation for Cisco Webex

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Overview

Webex by Cisco is a video-calling application that provides screen sharing, video conferencing, and webinars. The Terms of Use clearly state that “All User Content is considered nonconfidential and public.” The Privacy Data Sheet discloses that Webex collects users’ personal information including names, email addresses, browsers, phone numbers, and mail addresses. The terms do not clearly state what categories of personal information are shared with third parties. The Privacy Data Sheet clearly states that no advertisements are served on the Webex Meetings platform, but they share personal information with third-party trackers to display advertisements on other sites and services. The terms clearly indicate that reasonable security measures are implemented to protecting the confidentiality of users’ personal information. The terms disclose that Webex does not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent.

Webex can be accessed through its website, and is available for download at the iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. The Privacy Statement and Terms of Use used for this evaluation can be found on Webex’s website, iOS App Store, and the Google Play Store. Additionally, other policies used for this evaluation include: Privacy Data Sheet. This evaluation only considers policies that have been made publicly available prior to an individual using the application or service.

Safety

The Terms of Use disclose that users can participate in discussion forums, local communities, or chat rooms on Cisco websites, which is broadly available to others, indicating that users can interact with both trusted users and untrusted users. The terms do not disclose whether information must be disclosed in order to participate in social interactions. However, the Terms of Use clearly state that all user content is public. The terms do not disclose whether users have control over how their information is displayed to others. The Privacy Data Sheet clearly states that Webex does not monitor or interfere with meeting content. The terms do not clearly disclose whether individual forums and chat rooms are moderated.

Privacy

The Privacy Data Sheet clearly provides that the categories of Personal Information collected by Webex may include a user's: name, email address, password, browser, phone number, mailing address, avatar, user information included in a company's synced directory, and a unique user ID. The Privacy Statement informs users that Webex engages with third parties to collect personal information on Webex’s behalf, and that Webex may share personal information with third parties. However, the terms fail to disclose the categories of personal information shared with third parties.

The Privacy Statement clearly states that the purposes for sharing users’ personal information are to operate the business, improve, analyze, and customize websites and services, and to send marketing and other communications to users. The Privacy Data Sheet clearly indicates that Webex imposes contractual limits on how third parties can use personal information that the Webex shares to them. The Privacy Data Sheet and the Privacy Statement provide that Webex does not sell personal information of California consumers, but does not address whether Webex sells the personal information of other consumers. The Privacy Data Sheet clearly states that Webex does track user usage for advertising purposes across the internet, but that Webex does not serve advertisements on its platform.

Security

The terms do not clearly disclose whether an account is required to use Webex or whether a user’s account is protected by multi-factor authentication. The Privacy Data Sheet indicates that Customer users, or company users, can manage their employees Webex accounts. The Privacy Data Sheet clearly states that Webex "will confirm identification (typically with the email address associated with a Cisco account) before responding” to a privacy request. The Privacy Data Sheet clearly indicates that all third-party data processors are contractually required to provide the same level of security protections as Webex, and further states that “All Cisco sub-processors undergo a rigorous security and privacy assessment to confirm their compliance with our requirements.” The terms indicate that Webex protects the confidentiality of user’ information with reasonable security measures, including encryption and physical access controls. The Privacy Statement provides that if Webex learns of a security system’s breach, that Webex “may attempt to notify you by posting a notice on our websites, sending an email, or otherwise contacting you.”

Compliance

The Privacy Statement clearly states that users are provided with the options to access, correct, suppress, export or delete their personal information. The Terms of Use state that users can upload text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, software, works of authorship, and other materials, and that the user retains ownership rights to material uploaded. The Privacy Statement includes a section specifically designated for Children’s Privacy. However, the terms fail to disclose whether the product is intended to be used by children under the age of 13, or whether Webex ever knowingly collects personal information from children under the age of 13.

The Privacy Statement clearly states that "Cisco does not knowingly collect Personal Information form children without appropriate parental or guardian consent." The terms do not indicate whether a parent can consent to the collection and use of their child’s personal information without also consenting to the disclosure of the information to third parties, whether Webex responds to a parent’s request to prevent further collection of their child’s information, or whether Webex deletes personal information from a child under the age of 13 if collected without parental consent.

Rating

This product received a Warning rating based on the following details:
  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
Data Collection
SCORE: 40%

What data does it collect?

  • Personally identifiable information (PII) is collected.
  • The categories of collected personally identifiable information are indicated.
  • Unclear whether the collection or use of data is limited to product requirements.
  • Geolocation data are not collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects biometric or health data.
  • Interactions, behaviors, or usage analytics data are collected.
  • Unclear whether this product collects sensitive data.
  • Data is automatically collected.
  • Unclear whether opt-in consent is requested from users at the time personal information is collected.
  • Personal information of users is collected by a third party.
Data Sharing
SCORE: 70%

What data does it share?

  • Collected information is shared with third parties.
  • Unclear whether the categories of information shared with third parties are indicated.
  • The purpose for sharing a user's personal information with third parties is indicated.
  • The categories of third parties that receive data are indicated.
  • Data are shared for analytics.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Third-party services are used to support the product.
  • The roles of third-party service providers are indicated.
  • Unclear whether this product supports third-party login.
  • Contractual limits are placed on third-party data use.
Data Security
SCORE: 75%

How does it secure data?

  • A user's identity is verified with additional personal information.
  • Unclear whether this product requires account creation.
  • Managed accounts are available.
  • Unclear whether multi-factor account protection is available.
  • Third-parties with access to information are required to provide the same security protections as the company.
  • Reasonable security practices are used to protect data.
  • Employee or physical access to user information is limited.
  • All data in transit are encrypted.
  • All data are stored in an encrypted format.
  • Notice is provided in the event of a data breach.
Data Rights
SCORE: 85%

What rights do I have to the data?

  • Users can create or upload content.
  • Users retain ownership of their data.
  • Processes to access or review user data are available.
  • Processes to modify data are available for authorized users.
  • A data-retention policy is available.
  • Processes for authorized users to delete data are available.
  • Unclear whether a user's data are deleted upon account cancellation or termination.
  • Data are deleted when no longer necessary.
  • Methods are available to restrict who has access to data.
  • Processes to download user data are available.
Data Sold
SCORE: 40%

Is the data sold?

  • Personal information is not sold or rented to third parties.
  • Users can opt out from the disclosure or sale of their data to a third party.
  • User information can be transferred to a third party in the event of a merge, acquisition, or bankruptcy.
  • Unclear whether users are notified if their information is transferred to a third party.
  • Unclear whether user information can be deleted prior to its transfer to a third party.
  • Unclear whether third-party transfers are contractually required to use the same privacy practices.
  • User information that is shared is not shared in an anonymous or de-identified format.
  • Unclear whether the company describes their de-identification process of user information.
  • Data are shared for research and/or product improvement.
  • Unclear whether contractual limits prohibit third parties from reidentifying or de-identified information.
Data Safety
SCORE: 25%

How safe is this product?

  • Users can interact with trusted users.
  • Users can interact with untrusted users, including strangers and/or adults.
  • Unclear whether profile information must be shared for social interactions.
  • Personal information can be displayed publicly.
  • Unclear whether this product allows users to control how their data are displayed to others.
  • User-created content is not reviewed, screened, or monitored by the company.
  • Unclear whether user-created content is filtered for personal information before being made publicly visible.
  • Unclear whether social interactions between users are moderated.
  • Unclear whether social interactions of users are logged.
  • Unclear whether users can report abuse or cyberbullying.
Ads & Tracking
SCORE: 70%

Are there advertisements or tracking?

  • Personal information is shared for third-party marketing.
  • Traditional or contextual advertisements are not displayed.
  • Personalised advertising is not displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • User's information is used to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
  • The company can send marketing messages.
  • The company does provide promotional sweepstakes, contests, or surveys.
  • Users can opt out of contextual, or personalised advertising.
  • Users can opt out or unsubscribe from marketing communications.
Parental Consent
SCORE: 20%

Can I provide parental consent?

  • Unclear whether intended for children under 13.
  • Unclear whether this product collects personal information from children under 13 years of age.
  • Unclear whether intended for parents or guardians.
  • Unclear whether company has actual knowledge that personal information from users under 13 years of age is collected.
  • The company does provide a section, heading, or separate policy for children in their policies.
  • Parental consent is required before personal information is collected or disclosed.
  • Unclear whether this product limits parental consent with respect to third parties.
  • Unclear whether this product allows parents to withdraw consent for the further collection of their child's information.
  • Unclear whether this product deletes children's personal information if collected without parental consent.
  • Unclear whether this product provides parental consent notice and method for submission.
School Purpose
SCORE: 13%

Is the product intended for school?

  • Unclear whether intended for students.
  • Unclear whether personal information or education records are collected from preK-12 students.
  • Unclear whether intended for teachers.
  • Unclear whether this product is primarily used by, designed for, and marketed toward students in grades preK–12.
  • Processes to enter education records into the product are not described.
  • Unclear whether additional rights or protections may be provided with an additional school contract.
  • Unclear whether the company is designated as a school official.
  • Parental consent obligations are not transferred to the school or district.
Individual Control
SCORE: 45%

Can I control the use of my data?

  • Unclear whether users can control the use of their information through privacy settings.
  • Use of information is limited to the purpose for which it was collected.
  • The context or purpose for which data are collected is indicated.
  • Company may combine data with additional data from third-party sources.
  • Combined information is treated as personally identifiable information (PII).
  • Unclear whether notice is provided if the context in which data are collected changes.
  • Unclear whether consent is obtained if the practices in which data are collected change.
  • A grievance or remedy mechanism is available for users to file a complaint.
  • Unclear whether users can request to know what personal information has been shared with third parties.
  • Unclear whether notice is provided in the event the company receives a government or legal request for a user's information.

Common Sense Standard Privacy Report (SPR)

The standard privacy report (SPR) displays all the privacy practices from a product's policies in a single, easy-to-read outline. The report shows a green check mark for better privacy practices and an orange alert for risky or unclear practices. This alert indicates that more time should be focused on these particular details prior to use.

About Privacy Evaluations

The privacy evaluations have been designed with the help and support of a consortium of schools and districts across the United States. These evaluations are designed to help educators make informed decisions about the potential privacy implications of educational technology used to support teaching and learning.

Our core evaluation criteria will always be freely available. People are encouraged to read the questions we use and our information security primer. Vendors are encouraged to use our questions and the information security primer to self-evaluate. You can also learn more about our evaluation process. Please be in touch with any questions or feedback.